Dickerson Park Zoo

There’s a new baby at Dickerson Park Zoo. A black and white colobus monkey was born Wednesday. The exhibit is open to the public, but zoo officials say the mom will likely choose to stay out of site in the indoor area.

According to the zoo, Colobus monkeys are born with their eyes open and weigh approximately one pound.

Both the mother and baby are doing well. The gender has yet to be determined.

Dickerson Park Zoo will honor veterans tomorrow (11/11) by offering free admission for any service members and veterans and their families. The zoo will also host “Celebrate Henry” Sunday (11/12) at 2 to honor the life of Henry the Hippo who died this month.

Dickerson Park Zoo will host Art Gone Wild tomorrow (8/12), an annual event with the Springfield Regional Arts Council. It’s also Global Elephant day, a time set aside to learn more about the dangers elephants face and what’s being done to help them. There will be special elephant-themed art activities for kids from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. At 11 a.m., guests are invited to a Trunk Talk, where a zookeeper will share more about elephants. An elephant watermelon stomp starts at 2. Art Gone Wild is free with paid zoo admission.

Dickerson Park Zoo welcomed a new baby giraffe Monday. The female calf is approximately 6 and a half feet tall and weighs around 150 pounds. Zoo veterinarian, Dr. Rodney Schnellbacher says the calf is nursing well and has already had her first physical. He says both the baby and mom are doing well.

The yet-to-be-named giraffe joins mom, Emma, and three other females and one male giraffe at Dickerson Park Zoo. The baby is on exhibit.